Rayner increases housing targets as part of NPPF overhaul
The deputy prime minister has launched an eight-week consultation on much-anticipated reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, which include raising annual housing targets to 370,000.
A fresh look at the Green Belt and the promise to deliver the “biggest boost to affordable housing in a generation”, were among the highlights of Angela Rayner’s Commons address.
Increased housing targets
Rayner is targeting the delivery of 370,000 homes a year, 70,000 more than the advisory target set by the previous government and well in excess of the number of new homes expected to be delivered this year – less than 200,000.
“We are in the most acute housing crisis in living memory, there are simply not enough homes,” she said.
Going forward, local housing targets will be mandatory and the method for calculating authorities will change “to reflect the urgency of local supply”.
“We have a housing crisis and a mandate for real change and we all must play our part,” Rayner added.
Reduction in London targets
While some areas will see the number of homes they must deliver increase, London will see a reduction in housing targets, according to Rayner.
In previous years, London has been asked to deliver 100,000 new homes a year. This will be revised to 80,000, which the deputy prime minister said is still “a huge ask”.
Green belt review
Rayner insisted that Labour will take a brownfield-first approach but confirmed, as expected, that she would be asking councils to review their Green Belt in a bid to make the system “work for the 21st century”.
The aim of the review is to unlock poor quality Green Belt, termed grey belt, for housing. Development on this land will require a 50% affordable provision, with a focus on social rent, as one of Labour’s ‘golden rules’ Rayner said.
As well as reviewing Green Belt, Rayner has warned local authorities to get their local plans up to date or risk being vulnerable to development by appeal. Only one-third of councils have an adopted local plan drawn up in the last five years.
If councils fail to comply the government could intervene, Rayner warned.
Affordable aims
Rayner has promised a “council house revolution”, insisting that boosting the delivery of affordable homes is vital if Labour is to hit its 1.5m, five-year housing target.
To do this, the secretary of state promised more flexibility in the affordable housing programme to unlock the delivery of more homes and provide “the biggest boost to social and aff housing in a generation”.
She also teased further reforms in this space, including around rent stability and Right to Buy.
A planning and infrastructure bill to make planning committees more effective is coming down the track, while Rayner also promised to “streamline delivery of critical infrastructure”.
“Today marks a significant step to getting Britain building again,” Rayner said.
“Our decisive reforms to the planning system correct the errors of the past and set us on our way to tackling the housing crisis, delivering 1.5m homes for those who really need them.”
This story is being continually updated
